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Spontaneous tank purchase- my new 29 gallon!

13K views 89 replies 21 participants last post by  froglady 
#1 ·
Well, here is another case of MTS! I just got a 29 gallon aquarium with stand, light, and hood off of craigslist for $10. This is going to be my project tank, and I thought I would start a thread to document its progress. I already know that I will need a new light fixture (the one it has is only rated for a 20 watt bulb) as I am going to plant it. Here's my plan of action:

-get a shop light (should I go for 2 or 3 watts per gallon?)
-get some play sand as substrate
-use root tabs and DIY CO2
-get a filter rated for 50 gallon tanks (I know a lot of people like the bio wheel ones, but what is the noise factor? The tank will be in my room, and I do need to sleep in there!)
-get a 150 watt heater
-plants!
-pick up some driftwood from a nearby lake and boil it thoroughly
-get some rocks (is granite ok?)
-cycle using fishless cycle

My 15 gallon has sort of been my trial, so I now pretty much know what I am doing as far as plants go. But, I am going to experiment with the CO2 and such first before I get any fish. I want to avoid any problems with the plants before I have to worry about fish as well (something I learned last time).

So, here comes the fun part, I really have no idea what fish I should put in there, so I am looking for imput. I already have guppies, corys, a betta, and I am getting a gourami, so I am looking for something different. Preferably something not so common as tetras, plattys and such.

So, what do you think? Any suggestions, comments, etc.? I am on a limited budget, so I will probably be purchasing a little something here, and a little something there, and Christmas is coming up! So, I have plenty of time to plan a really nice tank, and decide on some cool fish.

I will post pictures as I add things.
 
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#55 ·
Thanks! I'm really hoping that this one turns out to work well. This is my SECOND attempt at a planted tank, so I have learned a lot from the first failed attempt. I have done pretty much everything different, I have a good light with correct bulbs, the makings for some DIY CO2, a good filter, no yucky driftwood, and some root tabs. I'm really crossing my fingers that the plants will grow and not the algae!

And, my quarantine tank is all set up so there will be no mistakes this time!
 
#56 ·
If I'm not mistaken (please someone correct me if I'm wrong) you will experience an algae bloom on initial set up but once the plants establish themselves they'll suck up all the nutrients/ferts thereby depriving the algae. At least that's what happened in my tank...

PS. Is that Flame in your avatar?? If so, great pic! Nice fish :)
 
#57 ·
Yeah, I know I might get some algae, just I'm hoping that since I got fast growing plants this time they will soon grow enough to deprive the algae of nutrients. I think what happened in my first tank is that the plants (being low light plants and slow growers) never got ahead and my tank was always full of algae.

That is Flame :) He always flares at the camera! Thanks.
 
#59 ·
I can finally revive this thread!!! My plants just came in today (long story that I don't have time to tell now) and I planted them all this evening :-D. So here's the pics. The plants are water sprite, myrio green, a melon sword, and mirco sword. My cured guppies and corys will be going in as soon as I'm sure the plants are off to a good start, and then I'll get my center piece fish. I'm thinking gouramis still, but if I can find something rare and compatable who knows ;-). More pics to come when I put the fish in....they need it badly because there's way too many guppies in my little 10 gal QT tank from when my female gave birth twice.

Aquarium Freshwater aquarium Aquarium decor Aquatic plant Apple pie


Aquarium Freshwater aquarium Aquarium decor Aquarium lighting Aquatic plant


Hopefully everything will grow in nicely and I can update with more pics of my jungle soon :-D.
 
#64 ·
I think you have the right idea. Put a bunch of plants in from the start so that their numbers can minimize the algae. I might were it me,, even place some more plants in. When they begin to take off and need pruning you'll have plenty of starts for other tanks (you know it's gonna happen) or to give to friends. maybe even trade with fish store for credit.:smoke:
 
#65 ·
Ok, here's an update. 5 days later and it looks like this. Wow, that's more growth than my low light tank achieves in months :shock:! I set up my CO2 system, and it's working better than I could have expected. I've got air bubbles coming from my plants! More pictures will come when I move my guppy fry over which hopefully will be soon.

Aquarium Freshwater aquarium Aquarium decor Aquarium lighting Aquatic plant


Thanks for all the nice comments :-D.
 
#70 ·
Trying to catch up with you thread!
Your tank looks AWSOME!!
Cant believe how fast your plants have grown!
How about some Bolivian Rams? They are really as nice as they say they are, never see mine picking on anyone. Allot less picky about water quality than blue rams, mine are starting to mate regardless of there high ph and nitrates.
Good luck with what ever you do with it!
What a great find!
 
#71 ·
Thanks everyone! I am so happy with my plants :) Honestly I wish I had gone with this type of setup sooner. All of the fish suggestions sound great and I wish I could have them all! I need to rehome some guppies! I love them, but they breed like mad and I need to move about 25 fry into the tank tomorrow. My cories will also be moving in (inside those rocks is a nice spacious cave I built just for them), and then I'll buy a few new fish. I can't wait!! I suppose I could always adopt some guppies out and then get a small school of other fish as well....

or maybe I just need more tanks lol! I think I'll save up plant clippings and maybe someday I can get my cousin's 125 gallon setup that she's offered me.....
 
#72 ·
sounds great! I'd love to take some of ur guppies off ur hands, but only male plz...... I love females, but it sounds like u have them all in one tank, so they r prly pregnent, and my mom says no more baby fish or they are going down the drain..... she means it too.... I'm kinda sad tho cuz I can't find anywhere with female live bearers that aren't pregnent!
 
#73 ·
The fry are in the tank! I had to get a new heater because my old one was junk, but other than that all is well. Looking at all the neat fish at the store makes me wish my tank was bigger....they had butterfly fish- so cool! And then of course I had to look at the bettas. Some were so pretty and unusual colored, but unfortunately the cups were filthy :( I just can't help but think of how beautiful they would look if given a good home....no Kim, there are no more tanks left!

Oh, and yes the fry are all in the same tank (can't put them in with the bettas!) but once they are grown up I would certainly consider giving away some of them, males or females. Veganchick, I think the only way you'd find a non-pregnant female livebearer is from a breeder who separates them right away lol. Those fish just breed like mad!
 
#75 ·
lol! guppies are so weird! but they actaully have a personality if the males aren't with the females! Kim, I can't take any guppies till the summer cuz my hands will be full with the whole saving fish from my school thing! lol!
 
#76 ·
Here's an updated picture. The plants are now a JUNGLE! The guppies are growing rapidly and I now have a problem - I have way too many fish. I don't have anywhere else to put them and no one on here wants them, so I don't know what to do with them. I'd feel kind of guilty bringing them to the fishstore.... But they really need to go. They produce a ton of poop, and I'm beginning to guess that the overstocking is the reason that my cories are still a little pale. Otherwise everything is perfect for them. pH 7.0, ammonia and nitrite zero, and nitrates are a little higher than I want them at 15 ppm. Plus I really didn't want this to become a guppy tank :-?. So any suggestions would be welcome.

Aquarium Freshwater aquarium Aquarium decor Aquatic plant Aquarium lighting
 
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